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[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

John McCain takes on Pat Robertson in Robertson's backyard. We've got a primary primer for you on NEWS 7 tonight.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And we'll visit a city school here in Roanoke where students have volunteered to stay late to bone up on their S-O-L's.
(------------)

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 at six - the Express trades J.F. Tremblay, the Martinsville Speedway connects the dots with a five thousand seat grandstand.
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[VO-NAT]
And George Washington high school head coach Chris Carter is quitting at the end of this season.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Andrew]
[SS=None]

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We are]
[SOT 10:18:42]
((SEN. JOHN MCCAIN/R-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: WE ARE THE PARTY OF RONALD REAGAN. NOT PAT ROBERTSON.))
[SOT 11:37:20]
((GILMORE: SENATOR MCCAIN HAS SAID HE WANTS TO TRY TO WIN THE PRESIDENCY IN THE BEST WAY. SEEMS TO ME WHAT HE'S DONE TODAY IS TRY TO WIN IT IN THE WORST WAY.))
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=worst way.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[10:36:37 tape two light saber]
He's likened himself to Luke Skywalker taking on the Death Star.
Today, John McCain turned his light saber on Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.
(------------)

[McCain]

Last night, he was in northern Virginia, quoting the Terminator... saying "Hasta la vista, baby" to what he calls the Gilmore-Warner machine supporting George W- Bush in Virginia.
This morning in Virginia Beach, McCain turned his wrath on Virginia's own Robertson and Falwell.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Ellen/Microwave]

Ellen Qualls is back in Richmond tonight.
What got McCain all fired up about Robertson?
[Live=Ellen Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=219-Ellen/Qualls;]
[SUPER=205-Richmond]

(( McCain chose a high school gym in the Christian Coalition's back yard to fire back.
[SOT 10:15:46]
((SEN. JOHN MCCAIN/R-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: NEITHER PARTY SHOULD BE DEFINED BY PANDERING TO THE OUTER REACHES OF AMERICAN POLITICS AND THE AGENTS OF INTOLERANCE WHETHER THEY BE LOUIS FARRAKHAN OR AL SHARPTON ON THE LEFT, OR PAT ROBERTSON OR JERRY FALWELL ON THE RIGHT.))
[RUNS= :14]

McCain lumped Falwell in with Robertson, accusing both of distorting his record, particularly on abortion, motivated by power and ambition.
But he singled out Robertson's efforts in Michigan.
[SOT TAPE THREE 11:02:56]
((SEN. JOHN MCCAIN/R-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: WHERE HE MAKES PHONE CALLS WITH HIS VOICE, SAYING THAT WARREN RUDMAN, WHO SERVED IN KOREA, WHO SERVED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, CALLING HIM A VICIOUS BIGOT. I AM SURE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA WILL REJECT THE PRACTICE OF SUCH POLITICS.))
[RUNS= :19]
[SOT 11:37:35]
((SEN. JOHN WARNER: MUCH AS I WANTED TO BE AN OLD NAVAL AVIATOR AND RESPECT HIM, I'M NOT SO SURE FIRING HEAT-SEEKING MISSILES UP THE TAILPIPE OF A LOT OF FOLKS IS A WAY TO DEAL WITH IT.))
[RUNS= :09 ]

The so-called Warner-Gilmore machine rallied.
Governor Jim Gilmore said Pat Robertson's his friend... and a major donor.
[SOT 11:37:06]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: THIS SERIES OF ATTACKS, I THINK IT'S DREADFUL. FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND TRY TO GET ONE VIRGINIAN TO TURN AGAINST ANOTHER VIRGINIAN, FOR THEIR OWN EXPLOITATION, I THINK IT'S A TERRIBLE SITUATION.))
[RUNS= :14 ]))
[Live=Ellen Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=205-Richmond]

Robertson's Christian Coalition says it will rise above this transparent effort to divide one American from another on the basis of religion.
Quoting now: "Our pro-family message of faith and freedom will draw citizens to the polls in record numbers."
Former candidate and religious conservative Gary Bauer appeared with McCain today.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Ellen/Microwave]

56 delegates are at stake, winner take all, tomorrow in Virginia.
That's the largest single group going to any one candidate so far.

[Bush]

George W. Bush was campaigning in Washington state today, but a pair of high-profile Virginia supporters made a final statewide swing.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke;]

U-S Senate candidate George Allen and Attorney General Mark Earley were in Roanoke this morning to rally last- minute support for Bush.
Although Democrats and Independents are allowed to vote in Virginia's open primary, both Allen and Earley say they're not concerned that'll hurt Bush.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:13:31]
[IN Q=And to the extent]
((GEORGE ALLEN/R- U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CANDIDATES MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO THEIR CAUSE, I THINK THAT'S HEALTHY. I THINK IT'S GOOD. THE REASON YOU HAVE A PRIMARY IS TO HAVE MORE PARTICIPATION BY MORE PEOPLE.))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 0:55:21]
((MARK EARLEY/R- ATTORNEY GENERAL: TUESDAY IN VIRGINIA IS GOING TO BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST FOR REPUBLICANS TO GO TO THE POLLS, BUT CONSERVATIVE INDEPENDENTS AND CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS WHO APPRECIATE WHAT GEORGE BUSH HAS DONE.))
[SUPER=201-George Allen/(R) U.S. Senate Candidate;]
[SUPER=201-Mark Earley/(R) Attorney General;]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=Bush has done]
(---------------)
[VO NAT]
Allen also said he doesn't believe Bush's appearance at Bob Jones University will affect the primary's outcome. His comments came before John McCain's attack on Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.
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[Primary-Pledge]

The Secretary of Virginia's Board of Elections says her office has been getting a lot of calls from voters who think the primary pledge "is stupid" or "Un-American."
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[VO-NAT]

Voters will be required to sign a pledge card that states they "do not intend to participate in the nomination process of any other party than the Republican party."
It's the state's way of complying with national Republican party rules. They figure they have to do this or the G-O-P might try to exclude Virginia's delegates from the national convention.
(------------)
[TALENT=Keith]
[SS=Hold]

Five candidates names will be on the ballot in Virginia tomorrow-- even though two dropped out.
The polls open at 6 a-m, and close at 7 p-m as they do in a general election.

[Blacksburg-Fight]

A Virginia Tech student who was severely beaten inside a Blacksburg home over the weekend has died.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

Police say 29-year-old Thomas Hyman was injured in a fight just inside the door of this East Roanoke Street house.

The house was rented by other Tech students.
Hyman suffered multiple injuries to his face, neck and head and had been on life support at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
He was a senior finance major at Virginia Tech and a resident advisor in a Lee Hall dormitory.
(------------)

[Bassett-Student-Funeral]

Close to a thousand people said goodbye in Martinsville today .. goodbye to 14 year old Tiffany Craighead.
She died in class last week, from congestive heart failure at Bassett High School .
Our Danville photographer, Andrea Dirocco, captured the farewell to Tiffany.
(/////SOT/////)
[IN Q=Music up full]
[RUNS=1:08]
[OUT Q=Music fades out.]
music nats 1:31:10
[SOT 1:38:16]
((VINCENT COX/FRIEND: KNOWING THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE HER ANYMORE. A GOOD PERSON-GONE.))
[RUN=10]
[SOT=1:35:47]
((MARIO HAIRSTON/FRIEND: IT WAS REALLY HARD ESPECIALLY THAT DAY..HALLS WERE QUIET))
[RUN=08]
[SOT=1:38:46]
((THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS WERE THERE MAKING CARDS.))
[RUN=05]
natsot break: 1:33:15 strengthen us. embrace us all especially mother and father.
[SOT=1:40:04]
((HALLIE LAW/COUSIN: THAT'S THE ONLY CHILD SHE HAS. SHE'S HAVING A ROUGH TIME BUT HOLDING UP FOR THE MOTHER.))
music nats 1:34:41
[SOT=1:36:50]
((JUST KNOWING HER FOR SO LONG SEE THEM GO TO CLASS AND THEN THEY DIE YOU NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN.))
music nats
[SOT 1:42:07]
((LOUVENIA ROSS/COUSIN: SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL CHILD I'M REALLY GOING TO MISS HER. SHE MADE AN IMPRESSION ON EVERYBODY. GOD LOVED HER BEST.))
music fade out
(--------------)[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

Union leaders say they're cracking down on racial slurs at the Rubatex line. That story is still ahead on News 7 at 6.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:31:05]
[IN Q=Estimate the sum]
((ESTIMATE THE SUM. OKAY. TWO SIX FIVE.))
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=TWO SIX FIVE]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And how can schools boost S-O-L test results?
This one brings in volunteer tutors, and stays open late.
(---------------)

[COMMERCIAL][Academy-Tutors]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-52]
[GRAPHIC=Standards of Learning]
Not every student dreads the Standards of Learning tests. But school administrators aren't taking any chances.
One Roanoke school principal is pouring six thousand dollars worth of grant money into preparing kids.
He's even paid bus drivers to take students home late, at five o'clock.
Tina Tenret takes us to Roanoke's Academy of Math and Science.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=On a warm winter]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dawnecia Dent/Third Grade; :12]
[SUPER=01-Marcus Thomas/Third Grade; :33]
[SUPER=01-Mary Frances Conner/Tutor; :59]
[SUPER=01-Richard Poindexter/Principal; 1:16]
[SUPER=01-Desi Myers/Third Grade; 1:48]
[SUPER=@Tina2; 1:54]
[RUNS=2:06]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Roanoke]
On a warm winter afternoon, when most of their classmates are calling it quits --
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:39:05]
[IN Q=Work on it independently]
((WORK ON IT INDEPENDENTLY PLEASE.))
[RUNS=:02]
[OUT Q=independently please]
motivated third and fifth graders muster extra energy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:54:14]
[IN Q=I think it's ]
((DAWNECIA DENT/THIRD GRADE: I THINK IT'S GOOD WE'RE HAVING THIS PROGRAM FOR THE S-O-L TESTS. YOU GET TO LEARN MORE AND GET READY FOR COLLEGE.))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=READY FOR COLLEGE]
Kids at the Roanoke Academy of Math and Science scored poorly on last year's S-O-L tests.
NONE of the fifth graders passed the math part -- compared to fifty percent statewide.
But this bunch VOLUNTEERS to crack the books an extra five hours a week.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:00:02]
[SOT 16:31:33]
[IN Q=So I can learn]
((MARCUS THOMAS/THIRD GRADE: SO I CAN LEARN, PASS THE S-O-L TEST AND GO THROUGH COLLEGE. BECAUSE WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A FIREMAN SO I CAN HELP PEOPLE.
BUTT BUTT BUTT
NAT SOT: IS IT CLOSER TO THIS ONE OR IS IT CLOSER TO THIS ONE? FOUR HUNDRED. IT'S CLOSER TO THIS ONE. THAT'S CORRECT
.))
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=THAT'S CORRECT]
Mary Frances Conner is not a teacher but DONATES her time to tutor.
She says kids tell her stories about tough times at home.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:06:53]
[IN Q=They need a lot]
((MARY FRANCES CONNER/TUTOR: THEY NEED A LOT MORE ATTENTION FROM MOTHER OR FATHER OR OLDER BROTHERS OR SISTERS. THEY NEED A LOT MORE HELP FROM THEM.))
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=FROM THEM]
At this inner city magnet school, kids are bussed in from other neighborhoods.
The principal thinks that hurts test scores.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:51:56]
[IN Q=There is not]
((RICHARD POINDEXTER/PRINCIPAL: THERE IS NOT THAT PRIDE AND OWNERSHIP. THE VALUE OF EDUCATION IS NOT AS STRONG AS IT SHOULD BE FOR WHATEVER REASON. SO THEREFORE WE ARE TRYING TO INSTILL THOSE VALUES THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
BUTT BUTT BUTT
NAT SOT COOKING CLASS))
[RUNS=:16]
So teachers here try tricks like baking cheesecake to make fractions fun.
Desi Myers says it's working -- she pulled her math grades up from C's, to A's and B's.
This will be her first crack at the S-O-L's.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:04:34]
[IN Q=So are you]
((TINA TENRET/NEWS7: SO ARE YOU SCARED ABOUT TAKING EM? DESI MYERS/THIRD GRADE: NO. TENRET: NO, WHY NOT? MYERS: BECAUSE I THINK THEY'LL BE FUN AND EASY.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=fun and easy]
This is just what the school wants -- to see a child skip and smile over standardized tests.

[NR-Foundry]

After years of complaints from residents about air pollution, a Radford foundry says it intends to be a better neighbor.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]

Intermet New River Foundry says it's spending more than three-million dollars to reduce dust emissions from the plant.
The company says the improvements are already underway.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:08:03 - :16]
[IN Q=We've been so busy]
((PETER ALDRED/INTERMET: WE'VE BEEN SO BUSY WITH OUT OWN OPERATIONS....HERE TO MAKE THAT RIGHT.))
[SUPER=01-Peter Aldred/Intermet;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=make that right.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The company, which makes automotive parts, has drawn fire from local residents who say their homes and cars are often coated with black dust from the plant.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:20:15 - :22]
[IN Q=It's just a problem]
((GEORGE FRANKLIN/FOUNDRY NEIGHBOR: IT'S JUST A PROBLEM. YOU CAN'T SIT OUT HERE AND LIVE PEACEFUL WITHOUT BEING COVERED WITH SOOT.))
[SUPER=01-George Franklin/Intermet Neighbor;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=covered with soot.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Radford's City Council plans to pass a resolution tonight asking Intermet to quickly put a stop to the pollution.
(------------)

[Rubatex-ADL]

Union leaders in Bedford say they are cracking down on alleged racial slurs aimed at blacks crossing the picket lines at Rubatex.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]

Union president Richard Walker met with a representative from the Anti-Defamation League for about an hour this afternoon.
Brittanie Werbel (wer-BELL) says she specifically discussed this incident caught on tape by News7 several weeks ago.. where two picketers waved bananas and made gorilla noises at black workers leaving the plant.
Werbel says she's satisfied the union is investigating the complaints and working to prevent future problems.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on the Big 7, one of the top hoop coaches in the state is steppping down.
The Express trades one of its tough guys.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the Martinsville Speedway's newest upgrade will put five thousand lucky fans in the driver's seat.
(------------)

[S-Carter]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-61]
[GRAPHIC=TOURNEY]
The high school regional basketball tournaments open up tomorrow night.
[GRAPHIC-NORTHWEST]
Two of the biggest games will be played in Danville where the GW girls team hosts Cave Spring and the GW boy's team entertains Fleming in the North West region.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Hometown Hoops Weekly; :00]
News 7 sports learned today that popular George Washington head coach Chris Carter will step down at the end of the season.
Carter has been a fixture at GW for ten years.
During the 1997-98 season he led the Eagles to the Group AAA state title.
Carter hopes to dedicate more time to his family and his studies. He is halfway through the requirements needed to secure his masters degree in administration at Longwood.
(--------------)

Tremblay was traded to the Pee Dee Pride for future considerations. He will play for former Express coach Frank Anzalone. In 43 games this season, Tremblay had eight points with 131 penalty minutes in his fourth year in Roanoke.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=ECHL]

Greensboro also sent the Express left wing Aniket Dhadphole (dot-folly) for future considerations. He has 35 points i

n 51 games this season.[S-Seats]

The Henry County economy has had to endure its share of low blows of late, but you can't blame the Martinsville Speedway for those problems.
The track is once again doing it's part to keep the county's work force on track.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Clay Campbell/Martinsville Speedway CEO;:17]
[SUPER=01-Steve Sheppard/Track Public Relations Director; 1:02]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=...FIVE DOLLARS."]
(-----------)

[S-Maroons]

Roanoke College's men's and women's basketball teams are headed to the NCAA Division III tournament for the sixth time in ODAC history.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]

The selection show was last night and the Roanoke women, whose ODAC tournament title earned them their 10th NCAA bid in the last 11 years, will host Dixie Conference champion Shenandoah Wednesday night at the Bast center at seven o'clock.
The Roanoke men also open at home and play Marymount at seven PM Thursday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We'll]
[SUPER=01-Page Moir/Roanoke Men's Basketball Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Paris Butler/Roanoke Point Guard; :18]
((PAGE MOIR/ROANOKE BASKETBALL COACH:WE'LL TREAT IT JUST LIKE WE'RE PREPARING FOR THE ODAC TOURNAMENT. REALLY, IT'S THE SAME THING. IT'S ANOTHER BIG TOURNAMENT, YOU'RE GONNA PLAY THURSDAY, IF YOU WHEN THURSDAY, WE'RE GONNA PLAY SATURDAY, YOU PLAY THEM ONE AT A TIME, EACH GAME COULD BE YOUR LAST SO YOU GOT TO PLAY IT WITH THAT TYPE OF PHILOSOPHY AND OUTLOOK TOWARDS THE GAME.))
((PARIS BUTLER/ROANOKE POINT GUARD:MARYMOUNT WHO WE PLAY IS FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA IS UP NEAR FAIRFAX, THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR ME BECAUSE I WILL BE PLAYING AGAINST SOME OF THE KIDS THAT CAME OUT OF MY HIGH SCHOOL AREA. IT'S ALSO GOOD THAT WE GOT SPLIT UP WITH SIDNEY. SYDNEY'S IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BRACKET THAN WE ARE. SO GOD WILLING IF WE BOTH MAKE IT FAR DOWN THE ROAD IT WILL LOOK REALLY GOOD FOR THE ODAC CONFERENCE TO SHOW HOW DIFFICULT AND HOW GOOD THE ODAC CONFERENCE IS.))
[RUNS=:34]
[OUT Q=....a conference it is"]
(------------)

[SUPER=X5001; Clears FX][Promo]

The controversy over how to honor Dr. Martin Luther King in Bedford isn't going away.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]

The city of Bedford has already voted to re-name this stretch of Route 460 after the slain civil rights leader.. now it wants county supervisors to follow suit.
But hundreds of residents have signed petitions opposing the move... partly because Dr. King never set foot in Bedford.
The board of supervisors will hear from both sides tonight and may decide whether to issue its own resolution on the re-naming.
We'll have more for you tonight on News7 at 11.
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